Hi all, I've found some slight rust on the spot welds on my slam panel which I'm planning to repaint. Does anyone know what the original paint process was or was it just the base coat without the clear coat?
Under bonnet paint
- Thread starter Chrisr1949
- Start date
I understand it's exact that just the base coat.
Thanks, before I sprayed it I thought it better to ask
Its not just basecoat, its a base colour with a satin finish, Robert @mrscalex should be able to help
If they went to the trouble of adding a satin finish why not just finish it properly Sean???
Be interesting to know as the guy currently doing mine is curios what the paint is.
Under bonnet paint is a bit of a minefield.
Both the colour and the finish. It’s a hotly debated topic.
@Sean d is right. It’s a satin finish rather than unlaquered. As witnessed on flat colours. If it was just base coat a Dakar Yellow for instance would have a gloss engine bay but they don’t.
Titan Silver uses the older Artic Silver colour. More weirdness.
The best thing you can do is get a can of custom matched paint made up at a local auto paint supplier. They are not expensive. £15 for a big can. I resprayed a whole engine bay with 4.
Here’s my front panel using those spray cans.
And the whole engine bay.
I went for a gloss look in the end. But I did think about satin lacquer one it was on.
Both the colour and the finish. It’s a hotly debated topic.
@Sean d is right. It’s a satin finish rather than unlaquered. As witnessed on flat colours. If it was just base coat a Dakar Yellow for instance would have a gloss engine bay but they don’t.
Titan Silver uses the older Artic Silver colour. More weirdness.
The best thing you can do is get a can of custom matched paint made up at a local auto paint supplier. They are not expensive. £15 for a big can. I resprayed a whole engine bay with 4.
Here’s my front panel using those spray cans.
And the whole engine bay.
I went for a gloss look in the end. But I did think about satin lacquer one it was on.
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2016
- Points
- 231
- Model of Z
- Z3M Imola and Z4 (e89)
What colour code is your car? Top coat? I may be able to find the primer code from that.
It's 364 topaz and I only need to paint the slam panel
The area between the bonnet catches
The only sure way of matching under bonnet paint is to have it "read" by a paint factor. This also allows change for age/underbody heat etc. A worthwhile £10 or so investment.
Good suggestion thanks
One of my little moans is the under bonnet colour. It's OK with all except black because the dull black just looks dirty no matter how clean it actually is. My fault for having black zeds, but not a big deal.
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2016
- Points
- 231
- Model of Z
- Z3M Imola and Z4 (e89)
The underbonnet paint code for BMW Topaz Blue 364 is;
DuPont M8745
Had a 2002 Topaz blue zed and it was black under the bonnet which surprised me at first, but yes that's what I was told.
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2016
- Points
- 231
- Model of Z
- Z3M Imola and Z4 (e89)
TBH I have no idea what colour they used in later cars, certainly earlier cars have a matt version of the top coat under bonnet, the code I gave you could be black, again I have no idea as their are no swatches to view. As far as I can assertain Dupont supplied(s) BMW with the paint, BMW then give the top coats their own paint code (and retain the DuPont Code) but do not give the matt finish under bonnet paint a BMW code only retaining the DuPont code. Maybe a local paint shop could mix a rattle can if you give them the DuPont code??
Topaz Blue Top Coat - BMW 364 DuPont F8230
Topaz Blue Under Bonnet BMW - No Code DuPont M8745
EDIT:
M8745 is indeed a matt version of Topaz. I can'T find any reference to a black under bonnet code being used for any manufacturing year for the Z3 in Topaz Blue, that said I agree they did use black on later cars..
So I'm lost as to the answer.
Last edited:
My May 2001 underbonnet seems to be the base version of my Red. Pic is pre-detailing!
No change to under bonnet paint colour in later cars. My Titan Silver in the pictures I posted is a 2002.
Individual Z3s always had black under bonnet and under boot lid. Ie cars with options like non-standard colour roof. That’s what you are referring to.
If you want a proper match take it to an auto paint supplier. They don’t need paint codes or even to put a spectrophotometer on the paint. They match exactly by eye which will also account for any fading and will be able to advise recreating the top coat satin finish too.
It’s not expensive. About £15 for a large can.
You aren’t going to get a paint code on here that will solve the problem better than that.
Individual Z3s always had black under bonnet and under boot lid. Ie cars with options like non-standard colour roof. That’s what you are referring to.
If you want a proper match take it to an auto paint supplier. They don’t need paint codes or even to put a spectrophotometer on the paint. They match exactly by eye which will also account for any fading and will be able to advise recreating the top coat satin finish too.
It’s not expensive. About £15 for a large can.
You aren’t going to get a paint code on here that will solve the problem better than that.
Under bonnet paint! Looks like it was whatever they had got.
My 2002 Topaz was a basic 1.9 , but had 'matt' black underneath, under bonnet and in the boot. Guess it was the base coat colour ?
My 2002 Topaz was a basic 1.9 , but had 'matt' black underneath, under bonnet and in the boot. Guess it was the base coat colour ?